Portable shelf.



W. J. POINTER & J. A. RAMSEY- PORTABLE SHELF.

APPLICATION 211.21) 111111: 14, 1910.

978,059. Patented Deo.6,1910.

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w. J. POINTER & J. A. RAMSEY.

PORTABLE SHELF.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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THI' Mum": I-lrIRs cawunmama. at I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. POINTER AND JAMES A. RAMSEY, OF COWETA, OKLAHOMA.

PORTABLE SHELF.

Be it known that we, VILLIAM J. POINTER and JAMES A. RAMSEY, citizens of the .United States, residing at Coweta, in the county of Wagoner and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Portable Shelves, of which the following-is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in store furniture and is constructed to provide a plurality of compartments which when removed from a series of shelves will be automatically closed and ready for transportation.

1 With the above and other objects in view,

this. invention consists in the construction,

combination, and arrangement of parts, all

as hereinafter more fully described, claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shelves in which the compartments are adapted to be retained; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section I thereof with the compartments or receptacles removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of said compartments or receptacles with the front thereof removed; Fig. at is a similar view illustrating the lid or front in place; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of means for retaining the lids or frontswithin the casing provided w1th the same; Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the hooks carried by the receptacle 0r compartment; Fig. 8 is'a horizontal section illustrating the lid in position on the box or of the receptacle or compartment illustratcompartment; Fig. 9 is an inside elevation of the lid or front; Fig. 10 is an outside elevation thereof; Fig. 11 is an end elevation ing the lid or front in position, parts thereof being broken away; Fig. 12 IS a similar vlew taken from the opposite end illustrating the lid removed.

The portableshelves forming the subjectmatter of the present invention comprise a series of shelves or supports having tracks thereon on which are adapted to travel a series of receptacles or compartments, said. receptacles being inclosed upon s1x sides thereof. A caslng 1s provided at one terminal of the shelves in which are adapted to be received a plurality of lids or fronts which are adapted to entirely inclose said receptacles or boxes, as the same pass through sald caslng.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed June 14, 1910. Serial No. 566,849.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawings 10 indicates a plurality of shelves having at one terminal thereof the casing 11, said casing being provided with a series of compartments 12. Each of these compartments is provided with a follower 13 adapted to be normally projected to the passage A by the springs 14:.

The compartments or receptacles adapted to reciprocate on the shelves 10 comprise a box 15 being inclosed on three sides thereof and having the ends 16 counter sunk from the outer edges of the sides. One of the ends is provided with a spring lock 17 while the opposite extremity thereof is provided with a pair of hooks 18, said hooks being constructed from a plate 19 which engages the inner surface of one of the ends 16, and has its outer terminal 20 tapered and bent outwardly, the free end of said hook adapted to rest flush with the sides of the compartment 15.

The lids which are adapted to be retained on the compartment 15 by the spring locks 17 and the hooks 18 comprise a plate or board 21 which has its terminals tapered on opposite sides. A hasp 22 is provided 011 the 1 inner surface of the d 21 adjacent to one terminal thereof and is adapted to be engaged by the spring lock 17 while the opposite terminal is provided with a pair of parallel grooves 23 which terminate attheir outer terminals in the plate 24. The grooves 23 form a guide for the hooks 18 in such a manner that the same when in their operative position are retained under the plate 24 while the hasp 22 is engaged by the spring lock 17 as hereinafter more fully described. Each lid is provided adjacent the grooves 23 with the transverse channel 25 in the edges thereof, said channel opening into a groove 26 in the outer side of the lid and is concealed by the retaining plate 27. This construction rovides a means for retaining the lids 21 in the compartments 12 previous to being engaged by the receptacles.

The top and bottom of each compartment is provided with an angle iron 28 which is adapted to engage each lid in the recess 25 and bear against the plate27, thus preventing the springs 14 from forcing the lid into the passage A. An angle iron 29 is formed on the end of the casin 11 opposite to the angle irons 28 and is at: apted to retain the opposite terminal of the lids at an angle to the longitudinal dimension of the horizontal passage A. A spring 30 is mounted on the casing A adjacent the outer side thereof and provides a means for locking the hasp 22 in the lock 17.

From this construction it will readily be seen that the terminal of the lid 21 carrying the plate 24 is projected partially into the passage A and as'the box 15 passes the same the hooks 18 will travel in the grooves 23 until the same engage the plate 24 after which the lid is carried with the box 15 and is removed from the casing 11, permittingthe'next lid to be forced forwardly by the follower 13. As the terminal of the lid carrying the hasp 22 passes the spring 30 the latter forces the hasp into locking engagement with the lock l7, thus securing the lid firmly to the box 15. The com-part ment with the lids secured thereto then pass from the passage A to a chute 31 and are then ready fortransportation.

In order to remove the compartments from the shelves a rope 32 or similar flexible member is secured to the top of the casing 11 and passes in a groove along the top of the upper shelf, then downwardly in a groove 33 in the bottom of said shelf, hence is bent upon itself passing reawardly in a groove in the under side of said shelf and so on until the free end is conducted from the casing 11 and, operated uponby a windv lass.

Having thus described our invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a plurality of shelves, of a casing at one extremity thereof provided with a series of compartments, each compartment adapted to correspond with one of said shelves, a series of lids adapted to be retained in each compartment, means whereby said lids may be partially projected from said compartments, a

series of boxes adapted to reciprocate in said shelves and past said casing, hooks carried by one end of each box adapted to engage one terminal of said lid, and means whereby the remaining terminal of said lid maybe engaged by said box.

2. The combination with a plurality of shelves, of a casing at one extremity thereof provided with a series of compartments,

each compartment adapted to correspond with one of said shelves, a series of lids adapted to be retained in each compartment, means whereby said lids may be partially projected from said compartments, a series iof boxes adapted to reciprocate in said shelves and past said casing, hooks carried by one end of each box adapted to engage one terminal of said lid, and a lockadapted to engage the remaining terminal of each lid. v

3. The combination with a plurality of shelves, of a casing at one extremity thereof of boxes adapted to reciprocate in said shelves and past said casing, hooks carr-ied by one end of each box adapted to engage one terminal of said lid, a lockadapted to engage the remaining terminal of each lid, and means whereby the positive engagement of said lid by said box may be insured.

1. The combination with a plurality "of shelves, of a series of boxes mounted'for movement therein, the front of said boxes being open, means whereby lids may auto matically engage one end of said boxes, and means whereby the opposite terminals of said lids may automatically be locked into engagement with said boxes.

5. The combination with a plurality of shelves, of a series of boxes mounted for movement therein, the front of said-boxes j being open, hooks carried by one terminal of said boxes, lids adapted to be engaged at one end thereof by said hooks, and means whereby the opposite terminals of said lids may automatically engage the opposite terminals of said boxes.

6. The combination with a plurality of shelves, of a series of boxes mounted for movement therein, the front of said boxes being open, hooks carried by one terminal of said boxes, lids adapted to be engaged at one end thereof by said hooks, automatic locks carried by the opposite terminals of said boxes, and means whereby the opposite terminals of said lids may automatically engage said locks.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of shelves, of a casing located at the end of said shelves, said casing being provided with a compartment for each of said shelves, a series of boxes mounted for movement on said shelves having the front thereof open, a series of lids adapted to be retained in each of said compartments, adapted to project said lids from said casing, and means whereby each of said boxes may engage oneof said lids.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of shelves, of a casing located at the end of said shelves, said casing being provided with a compartment for each of said, shelves, a series of boxes mounted for movement on said shelves having the front thereof open, a series of lids adapted to be retained in each of said compartments, means whereby one terminal of each lid may be projected from said casing,

spring pressed followers means whereby the outer terminal of each box may engage the projecting end of one of said lids, and means whereby the opposite said casing being provided with a compart ment for each of said shelves, a series of boxes mounted for movement on said shelves having the front thereof open, a series of lids adapted to be retained in each of said compartments, means whereby one terminal of each lid may be projected from said casing, means whereby the outer terminal of each box may engage the projecting end of one of said lids, means whereby the opposlte end of said lids may automatically be locked into engagement with the opposite end of said box, and means whereby the boxes may be conducted from said casing.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of shelves, of

a casing located at the end of said shelves, said casing belng provided with a compartment for each of said shelves, a series of boxes mounted for movement on said shelves having the front thereof open, a series of lids adapted to be retained in each of said compartments, means whereby one terminal of each lid may be projected from said casing, means whereby the outer terminal of each box may engage the projecting end of one of said lids, means whereby the opposite end of said lids may automatically be locked into engagement with the opposite end of said box, and means whereb said boxes may be simultaneously removed from said shelves.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. POINTER. JAMES A. RAMSEY. Witnesses:

G. K. Lnsnm, Tnos. P. LUKER. 

